Statement by the UN LGBTI Core Group.
Delivered by H.E. MR. JUAN PABLO VEGAS TORRES, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF PERU TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK
June 16, 2025
Chairperson,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Member States of the UN LGBTI Core Group,[1] an informal cross-regional group established in 2008.
At the outset, the LGBTI Core Group would like to thank the Permanent Mission of Morocco to the United Nations and the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect for co-organizing this High-Level side event to mark the Fourth International Day on Countering Hate Speech.
Chairperson,
According to the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action, hate speech is understood as any kind of communication in speech, writing or behavior, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factor.
As our overarching goal is to work within the United Nations framework to ensure universal respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, specifically lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, with a particular focus on protection from violence and discrimination, the LGBTI Core Group wants to break the silence surrounding the suffering faced by LGBTI persons and to draw attention to the harsh reality they often face. Because of their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression or sex characteristic, LGBTI persons are frequently victims of hate speech.
Hate speech causes tremendous harm to LGBTI persons, affecting their civil and political rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights. Likewise, fear and intimidation resulting from it may prevent them from fully participating in their societies. Hate speech can also cause LGBTI persons to be often more exposed to additional stigma, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence; and ultimately can lead to hate crimes against them.
Chairperson,
Hate speech keeps rising and it is spreading globally. Often triggered by misinformation and disinformation, hate speech in all its forms and manifestations is proliferating, particularly in the digital context where its scale and impact has grown due to the use of communications technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI).
In the digital context, hate speech can take the form of images and videos, several of which created using AI, as well as hashtags that are widely spread online to attack and harass LGBTI persons. Cyberbullying is particularly dangerous for LGBTI youth with social media at times amplifying hate and dragging them into isolation, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Chairperson,
We all are aware that hate speech has disastrous impacts on our societies, including exacerbated violence, exclusion, discrimination, and deepening inequalities. As a perversive social problem, we need a whole-of-society approach to address hate speech.
Without the real, effective and meaningful participation and partnership between Governments, UN system and agencies, regional organizations, civil society organizations, academia, private sector – in particular tech and social media companies – hate speech and its drivers and roots causes will not be prevented and ended. Likewise, we all – the people – must also do our utmost efforts to combat hate speech by promoting respect for diversity and inclusivity.
Governments must work to create a safe and secure online space for all users by defining and adopting common standards, guidelines and industry actions that are in compliance with international law, while digital technology companies must increase their accountability and transparency. (Adapted, P31(a), P32(b), Global Digital Compact)
In this sense, the LGBTI Core Group calls upon all actors to work in partnerships to scale up their policies and actions to address and counter hate speech, both online and offline, while making sure that they also consider the unique needs and perspectives of LGBTI persons.
The Group firmly believes that by doing so, we will truly achieve our goal to ensure universal respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind.
I thank you.
[1] The group is co-chaired by Chile and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and includes Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Timor Leste, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, the European Union, as well as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the non-governmental organizations Human Rights Watch and Outright International.